Margaritifer and Solis Lacus at the CM, just visible Olympus Mons rising at the following limb. A very faint cloud (better highlighted in the image in B light) is passing above Mare Sirenum (f limb).

Olympus Mons is well seen at CM.

Images taken at shorter wavelengths (B and UV) to highlight martian clouds. Note the white patch of Olympus Mons at CM.

Comparison between the 12" Cassegrain and the 14" Newton. The images are two days apart and the longitudes are pretty much the same.

The planet, still rather small, shows a polar cap reduced to a minimum. Just visible Olympus Mons, as a pale red spot.

The planet taken in broad daylight at the beginning of the apparition, when it was still quite small (7″).

Mare Acidalium and Sinus Meridiani at Central Meridian.

Syrtis Major and Hellas basin at Central Meridian. Note the very small size of the southern polar cap at the time.

The so-called Mitchell Mountains are visible in this image, as a detached fragment of the main polar cap (Ls=259°).

Chryse transits at Central Meridian. Note the dust storm on the south polar cap (above). The cap itself is in regression (boreal spring).

Technical data

CFF 30 cm f/20 Cassegrain ♦ ASI290MM ♦ RGB Astronomik

June 19, 2020

The first result of the apparition. Visible Syrtis Major, Hellas and the bright South polar cap (top). The phase effect is still very remarkable.

Technical data

CFF 30 cm f/20 Cassegrain ♦ ASI174MM ♦ RGB Astronomik

May 9, 2020

The planet completely covered by the global dust storm. The North Pole (bottom) is hidden by a delicate blue polar cloud.

Technical data

C8EdgeHD ♦ ASI174MM ♦ Barlow Celestron 2x ♦ Astronomik LRGB

July 18, 2018

The planet during the 2018 Great Opposition of (where it reached the minimum distance of the fifteen-years cycle), about a month before the global storm that obliterated the entire surface. Syrtis Major, Hellas, and the large South polar cap are clearly visible. South at top.

Technical data

C8EdgeHD ♦ ASI174MM ♦ Barlow apo 2x ♦ Astronomik RGB

June 2, 2018